Murray County 4-H building is a bright spot in community

Murray County Parks Director, Justin Hoffmann says a small lighting upgrade can make a big difference to a lot of people. 

“This building is used as a primary large group meeting space by many organizations throughout the county,” details Hoffmann. “The building is now brighter and quieter, and the buzzing noise no longer interrupts meetings. It’s also safer since the new LED lighting can be turned on immediately, unlike the old lighting, which took roughly 10 minutes to turn on.”
 

CERTs loves to support projects that have a positive impact on the community and can serve as an educational model. The Murray County 4-H building serves A LOT of the local community. Slayton American Legion, Plum Creek libraries, Slayton Women of Today, Slayton Riders, Women's Auxiliary… All of these organizations use the building.

Kim Hause, Extension educator for 4-H Youth Development in Murray County explains some of the ways this building is integral to the community. 

“Sons of the American Legion meet monthly as well as host monthly community free- will breakfasts and meals to honor those on Veterans Day and Memorial Day,” she says. “The Slayton Women of Today host an annual fall boutique which helps them to raise funds to award scholarships and donations to community programs. Plus, the Hospice of Murray County hosts their annual rummage sale, by far the largest fundraiser in Murray County! This event ensures that Hospice of Murray County continues to provide the high quality end of life care that everyone deserves.” 

4-H is a nationwide youth development program focused on research-based education and hands-on learning experiences to foster leadership and skill-building. Despite the national standing, the program operates on a local level. 4-H is administered by University Extension offices in each state, including Minnesota. Together, 4-H and the University of Minnesota Extension strengthen local communities by equipping young people with valuable knowledge and experiences.

That vision of community strength is alive in Murray County, where the 4-H building helps house annual events like the county fair, but also daily opportunities and experiences. 

“The Murray County 4-H uses the building weekly for roughly 30-60 youth who participate in after-school programming related to STEM, home environments, crafts, and cooking skills,” explains Hause. “The 4-H program also hosts community events to engage multigenerational groups and help community members with food insecurities. These community meals host up to 300 people at a time!”

Additionally, Murray County Extension uses the building for agriculture related adult education classes, such as small grains and winter crops or farm transition workshops.

Not only did the CERTs Seed Grant support the upgrade, but it was an opportunity for Murray County to shed light on the situation. Parks Director Hoffmann reported that their team was able to highlight the upgrades at the county fair, sharing CERTs educational materials and showcasing the amount saved on energy bills. Plus, a class was held for K-6 kids to learn about energy saving. 

Hoffmann says the project has been a great experience. 

“CERTs is an amazing program to work with,” he says. “The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. The application and reporting process were very straightforward and easy to complete.”

With additional buildings on the fairgrounds in need of lighting upgrades, the future does indeed look bright in Murray County!